Widows & Widowers Support Group

This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.

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cliffskat 07/18/2016

Hi Everybody,

Once in awhile in the past we have done a Roll Call post to see who is here and why/how we got here. Since the transition to the new site messed up a lot of people's friends lists, mine included, I thought it might be helpful to see who made it to the new site. Especially if you had to create a new profile to get in, I would love to know who is here. Seeing Diane post, who used to be Nicker07, an old friend of mine, it made me think it would be a good idea. Before the new site, I had over 400 people on my Friends list. I now have about half that, and the ones I had deleted are back on my list and people who were active just before the migration are not there. And I can't even hug someone who is not on my friends list because of the way the new site has been built.

Please don't post any last names or your kids' names - those should be kept private for your safety - this is a public forum.

I will start:

I am Cliffskat, my name is Martha, I lost my husband Cliff to an unexpected heart attack in November 2007. He was only 55, I was only 50 when he died. We had just celebrated being together for 30 years. I joined DS a couple weeks after he died. I became a "Community Leader" or "CL" for short in March of 2011. I stayed to help others get through their losses. I met my new husband in this group (he is a widower), and we married in 2010. I moved from Florida to England. My life looks nothing like it did before I lost Cliff. But it is good for the most part.

Okay, who else is here???

Love and Hugs,

Martha

tim57 07/20/2016

I'm Tim57 (Tim), lost my Lyn on August 18 2015 unexpectantly. I hate that the site has had these problems. I'm good with change if it is for the better. But this one has caused too many issues in an area where people need help. Some of my friends just communicate by personal e-mail because so many messages are lost here. I feel for the new folks.
Take care, Tim

loveddogs 07/20/2016

Hi Martha, I am Michele/avatar loved dogs! I lost my wonderful husband April 23, 2016. We were together forty years. DS/WW was a life saver for me. I came here shortly after he passed and the hope and comfort I recieved was what kept me going. And now, this site is a mess. Not sure who's idea it was to change it, but as we can all see, it's a shame. Not user friendly at all. Hugs and Love to all, Michele

laurie1209 07/20/2016

Hey i'm Laurie. I lost my husband, Frank (34), this past march to a tragic accident (and the worst part is we will never really know what happened that day. We were together for 10 years and would have been married 6 this upcoming fall. Finding this site has been a blessing with all of you out there who allow us to vent, ask questions and get great practical advice from people who have been there and done that already. I know that sometimes its not easy to share your experiences but thank you for sharing your stories.

pathoflife 07/20/2016

Hi Martha,

It's good to see your familiar 'cliffskat' when I log on to Daily Strength. My name is TJ and I sign in as pathoflife. My husband died of an heart attack that gave no previous warning signs; that was in 2005. He was 62; I was 59. We met when I was 14. We were married for 42 years. I found DS in 2009 while doing a Google search on loss and grief. That was the beginning of another chapter in my life. At DS I found a safe place to share, learn, vent, and continue to heal. DS was and remains a blessing in my life. I have remained friends with many who shared my journey, and we moved toward the light at the end of this tunnel of sadness together.

I remarried 3 1/2 years ago to a gentleman that I met on the Daily Strengthh site. I come to DS often and on occasion will post or reply to one.

I find the new Web site cumbersome and less user-friendly; however, change is often difficult at first. I REALLY miss the chat option called Meebo. It was quick, more personal, and easy to navigate (like texting).

You're doing a great job, Martha. DS feels like a good friend to this sojourner of loss. I've made some wonderful friends on this site. I was privileged to host two Gatherings/Reunions of our DS community. They were a wonderful exoerience and just another highlight of my time here. Blessings to you my friend. TJ

SandyV1 07/20/2016

I'm still Sandy. My husband died in April 2014 and this site was a lifeline to me in that horrible first year.

missthemusic 07/20/2016

I am missthemusic, my name is Paula. My husband, soulmate, best friend, of 45 years passed April 28, 2014. A short six weeks after Dx of cancer. Only two months before on February 13, 2014 my sweet, precious, daughter lost her long arduous battle with a rare form of cancer. This site has truly been my lifeline. I’m so grateful for the kind, caring, supportive, encouraging, members that understand. We were expats living in Costa Rica. I continue to travel often to & fro. This has made it utterly impossible to find a local support group when I’m in the states as the timing was always off. So I will continue to be here regardless of the difficulties of this new format.
Peace to all, Paula

Rea 07/20/2016

Hello, My name is Rea and I'm new here. Born/raised in Florida. I lost the love of my life Damon on Jan. 4, 2013 to a massive heart attack. It's still emotionally tough, but I just keep putting one foot forward even in the midst of tears and can't see. After reading the post, I guess I missed the migration. So Hi!!!!

freeagain1014 07/20/2016

I'm free again
My name is Vonda. I lost my exhusband to lung cancer June 20 2016. He was diagnosed in February. We were married q2 years then he left me for someone else. He came back to me the last 3 months of his life. I cared for him. I miss him soooo much

katrina777 07/20/2016

I am Katrina, still here, lost my husband in May of last year, joined a few months later.

Msbklyn 07/20/2016

Msbklyn. My name is Marybeth. I lost my husband on 9/30/15 after a 30 day hospitalization due to a sudden cardiac arrest. We had just finished a cruise in Alaska and were spending one more night in Seattle before returning to the east coast. I found DS several months later and only recently began to post when I saw so many people leaving due to the new format. I wanted to give new members the messages of hope and strength that helped me in the early months. This has been a place where you feel like you can gain understanding without question and judgment and you have no need to explain yourself. It is a godsend for all of us.

rebl3157 07/20/2016

Hi I'm Rachel, I lost the love of my life, soul mate and best friend in July 2014. He was killed by an automobile while on the job. I keep checking in here hoping it changes. My heart aches for the new folks to the site. So frustrating...

Driftersoul 07/21/2016

Hello all and Martha in particular. I am Driftersoul. I lost my husband 4 1/2 years ago to brain cancer (GBM). I joined sometime in the summer of 2014. I come to the site not as often as before because I am having a hard time getting used to the new format we have. Thoughts to all of you having a rough time . Driftersoul

shelda 07/21/2016

Im here but enjoyed the old format better..

letmehelpyou 07/21/2016

Letmehelpyou, My name is Valerie, My husband died unexpectedly at the age of 41 in 2011 of a massive heart attack. I joined DS in 2014. Like Martha, my life is nothing like it was in 2011, but it is a good life. I am finding this new format very disconcerting. But I keep coming back, I wonder how we can make this new format more our own. Right now I feel very disconnected.
Hugs,
Val

pjdunk 07/21/2016

Hi everyone. I'm PJ. I am new to this site and this is my first post. I lost my husband on June 4 2016. He was 56 and I am 57. He had small cell lung cancer with mets to his liver, bones, brain, and probably other places not diagnosed. I miss him so much. I have his urn and two 8x10 pictures of him over my fireplace that I talk to and kiss goodnight every night. I hate coming home after work to an empty house. I am unfamiliar with the old format, so this is ok for me. I hope to make some new friends here soon.

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